Reel Reviewer column: Margot is the ice queen

Jason Day previews the dramatic figure skating showcase featuring Margot Robbie, plus the best of the other movies hitting the big screen in February.

I, Tonya (out on Tues Feb 20)

It’s rare to see a film about ice-skating. And it’s rarer that one is billed as ‘The Goodfellas of figure skating’.

Dancing On Ice this ain’t as this film recounts the incident when world number one Nancy Kerrigan was assaulted by a man hired by her competitor Tonya Harding’s then husband.

Margot Robbie plays Harding. Alison Janney is on blindingly good form as Harding’s monstrous mother/ trainer.

The Shape Of Water (February 14)

Director Guillermo del Toro made headlines when he asked the orchestra at the Golden Globes to stop playing, a standard award ceremony ploy to move on to the next category, to give him time to thank people as he collected the Best Director award.

Sally Watkins plays a mute who falls in love with a lab-created amphibious creature in a dark, bizarre romance.

Winchester (February 2)

This American-Australian haunted house film stars Helen Mirren as Sarah Winchester who is adamant she is cursed and begins building a mysterious home in California following advice from a medium.

Valentine’s Day picks

Fifty Shades Freed (February 9)

Continuing the glitzy ‘posh people’s S&M’ romance franchise, this third installment is perfectly timed to coincide with Valentine’s Day.

Phantom Thread (February 2)

Will Daniel Day Lewis, who announced his retirement from screen acting last year, scoop his fourth Best Actor Oscar for this role? He stars as a famous couturier who falls in love with the perfect model for his creations.